Over 160 firms in Silicon Valley launch registration process ahead of PM Modi's visit

WASHINGTON: Over 160 Indian American organisations in Silicon Valley, reflecting various sections of the highly diversified ethnic community, are planning a reception to welcome Prime Minister Narendra Modi in September during his visit to the world-famous technology hub.

About 400 representatives from 160 diverse Indian American organisations attended a meeting in Silicon Valley yesterday which was organised by the recently formed Indo-American Community of West Coast (IACWC) which has been mandated with the task of uniting all organisations for the purpose of planning the historic event.

Modi is scheduled to address the Indian diaspora at the SAP Centre in San Jose on September 27.

Organisers expect a house full at the SAP Centre, which has a capacity of 20,000 people.

BJP leader Ram Madhav inaugurated the formal process of registration on a newly created website - pmmodiinca.org - at an event organised by IACWC, which was also addressed by Deputy Indian Ambassador to the US, Taranjit Singh Sandhu, and Indian Consul General in San Francisco, Venkatesan Ashok.

"There are three main prongs to Prime Minister Modi's overall goals: unity, security, and prosperity. He has been working night and day to ensure the presence of all three," Madhav said in an address to the Indian American community.

"These community events all around the world not only help the Prime Minister communicate his objectives to a larger audience, but they also help create the unity he seeks," said Madhav.

Khanderao Kand, IACWC spokesperson, said tickets to the prime minister's event are free.

In order to manage the high demand to hear Modi speak at the SAP Centre, all partnering organisations shall register through the website. Majority of passes will be distributed through the partnering organisations, he said.

"We understand that the IACWC is a platform through which we must bring together the entire community, regardless of language, culture, religion or profession," Kand said.

In his remarks Sandhu stressed the importance of this event in the eyes of the world.

"With unity comes political strength, and with political strength, the future belongs to India," he said.